Automation & Control Articles, Stories & News

I can't recommend this show enough for the small business owners in this industry. Mark it on your calendar for next year, attend some classes and see what is out there. It can only help to improve business and open doors to new opportunities.

Dave Rye is Vice President and Technical Manager of X10 (USA) Inc., and has been with X10 an incredible 30 years. Dave is responsible for technical liaison between Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and X10's engineering staffs in Scotland, Hong Kong, and the USA. He procures industry approvals (FCC and UL) for all X10 products, as well as those developed and manufactured by X10 for its OEMs.

While future technologies offer even more features at more aggressive prices, the currently available, affordable technologies, coupled with the growing content, can make the 2004 holiday season a robust one for the HDTV industry.

I predict in another 5 years the majority of households will have switched to HD. Once you go HD you can never watch SD again. Kind of like being without a microwave, once you have one you can't live without it.

Coax has the following advantages: 1) it is already in place where the TVs are located (unlike phone line), 2) it is a shielded network without a lot of conflicting traffic (unlike power line) and, 3) in general can reliably provide enough capacity for the video delivery (unlike wireless today).

When coupled with a programmable digital device, such as a microprocessor or a microcontroller, the patented device allows the realization of "intelligent" and "communicative" equipment that can interact with similar objects over a domestic network, without the need of installing a dedicating wiring.

With motorized drapery connected to the PLC, not only will the homeowner control the blinds from keypads on the wall, but can have them open or close depending on amount of sunlight coming into the room automatically.

So, what's going on here? Is this something to be alarmed about if you're in ProAV? No, not really. In fact, I believe it's a good thing. It's a good thing because we now see the path of technology before us. We aren't blindsided with new technology and new products that we never saw coming - thus rendering our old installs and rental inventory useless.

Plug in the adapter and sit back while it powers up, configures itself and registers. That's it ... as soon as the lights stop blinking you're ready to start making calls. And in my case ... everything went as advertised ... amazing.

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